Crews work overnight after train derails in south St. Louis County

ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) – Crews worked overnight to clean-up after a cargo train derailed in south St. Louis County Monday.

Firefighters said six or seven empty train cars came off the track near Birchmont Place and Old Baumgartner. The train is owned by Burlington Northern, which is now the company handling the clean-up effort.

Neighbors said trains have derailed on the track before, but never as bad as Monday’s.

“First I heard a bunch of noise and I looked back and one of the train cars it flew straight back and hit the other ones and they all flew apart in separate ways causing a bunch of smoke and sparks and fire and stuff,” Rebecca Wolter said.

Crews put rock down overnight to make the railroad passable for train traffic. They say they will return to the site Monday afternoon to make sure trains are able to use the railway.

Neighbors are advised they may see more train traffic than usual when the section of railroad reopens because it was shut down for around 12 hours.